The Efficacy of Tafolecimab in Chinese Patients with Hypercholesterolemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of death worldwide in 2021, with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, encompassing hypercholesterolemia, being a major contributing factor. A range of lipid-lowering medications is used for the management of hyperlipidemia, but the use of statins is considered as standard therapy. Unfortunately, some patients do not respond to this therapy, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches. Tafolecimab is a novel proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) monoclonal antibody that inhibits the binding of PCSK9 with low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLRs) and increases LDLR recycling, and thus it indirectly lowers circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels by increasing LDL-C uptake. The primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of tafolecimab in reducing LDL-C levels. METHODS: A thorough search was conducted on Medline (PubMed), Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus, and Google Scholar from inception until December 2023. Review Manager was used for statistical analysis. The random effects model was used to calculate risk ratios (RRs), mean differences (MDs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed using the Higgins I2 index. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane's RoB 2 tool. This review has been registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023471020). RESULTS: A total of four Chinese studies matched the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. A total of 726 patients were included in this review, out of which 476 patients were males. Out of four, three studies that studied the efficacy of 450 mg tafolecimab every 4 weeks in patients (n = 462) as compared to placebo (n = 224) were included in the meta-analysis. According to the pooled results, tafolecimab caused a significant decrease in LDL-C levels from baseline to week 12 as compared to placebo (MD = - 63.78, 95% CI - 65.88 to - 61.68, p value < 0.00001, I2 = 97%). The pooled results showed that more patients achieved ≥ 50% reductions in LDL-C levels (RR = 52.33, 95% CI 18.51-147.95, p value < 0.00001, I2 = 0%) and LDL-C < 1.8 mmol/L (RR = 17.27, 95% CI 9.59-31.11, p value < 0.00001, I2 = 0%) at week 12 in the tafolecimab group than the placebo group. Additionally, tafolecimab also caused a robust decrease in non-HDL-C, apolipoprotein B, and lipoprotein(a) levels from baseline to week 12 compared to placebo. The overall risk of bias was low, as determined by the RoB 2 tool. CONCLUSIONS: Tafolecimab showed promising lipid-lowering efficacy and a well-tolerated safety profile. Our findings suggest its potential as an innovative therapeutic option for individuals with hypercholesterolemia; however, significant heterogeneity was observed in some results, making it difficult to come to a firm conclusion. Therefore, large-scale randomized trials are required to confirm our findings, particularly exploring the most effective dosage regimens across varied populations. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO identifier number CRD42023471020.

Bevacizumab Combination Therapy Versus Standard Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer in Shorter and Longer Follow-Up Duration: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab in patients with ovarian cancer over a shorter and longer follow-up period. METHODS: We searched Medline, Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus, and Google Scholar for all phase 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that administered bevacizumab to women with ovarian cancer. Review Manager 5.4 was used to calculate risk ratios (RR) and hazard ratios (HR) with 95% CIs. We assessed the quality of the included studies using version 2 of the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2). RESULTS: After screening the titles, abstracts, and full texts, we included nine RCTs in our systematic review and meta-analysis. Four RCTs had a low risk of bias, while 5 had some concerns. Bevacizumab was associated with a progression free survival benefit for <36 months (HR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.45-0.76, P <0.0001, I2 =90%) and >36 months (HR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.55-0.80, P <0.0001, I2 =80%), and an overall survival benefit for <36 months (HR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.78-0.98, P =0.02, I2 =0%) but not for >36 months (HR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.89-1.09, P =0.77, I2 =30%). There was no difference in deaths between intervention and control groups <36 months (RR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.86-1.04, P =0.26, I2 =10%) or >36 months (RR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.97-1.06, P =0.50, I2 =0%). Bevacizumab reduced disease progression <36 months (RR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.72-0.92, P =0.0008, I2 =82%) but not at >36 months (RR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.58-1.19, P =0.30, I2 =94%). The adverse events reported with Bevacizumab use included thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, leukocytopenia, anemia, hypertension, bleeding or hemorrhage, and gastrointestinal, cardiac, and dermatological adverse events. CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab may improve progression-free survival within and after 36 months, overall survival within 36 months, and reduce disease progression within 36 months.

Efficacy of Cisplatin-Containing Chemotherapy Regimens in Patients of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The relative success of cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens for PDAC in clinical trials warrants a review of the literature to assess the cumulative results. This study aims to assess the efficacy of cisplatin-containing regimens for PDAC in terms of survival and response outcomes using a systematic review and proportional meta-analysis. METHODS: In this study, an electronic search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Google Scholar to find relevant literature. The random effects model was used to assess pooled overall response rate, stable disease rate, progressive disease rate, 1-year overall survival rate, and their 95% CIs. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plot symmetry and the one-tailed Eggers' test. In all cases, p-value < 0.05 was indicative of significant results. The review is registered with PROSPERO: CRD42023459243. RESULTS: A total of 34 studies consisting of 1599 patients were included in this review. All the included studies were of good quality. In total, 906 patients were male, and the median age of the patients was 58-69 years. Overall, 599 patients had cancer of the pancreatic head, 139 had cancer of the pancreatic body, and 102 patients had cancer of the pancreatic tail. The pooled risk ratios (RRs) revealed an overall response rate of 19.2% (95% CI, 14.6-24.2%), a stable disease rate of 42.3% (95% CI, 36.6-48.8), a 1-year overall survival rate of 40% (95% CI, 34.3-45.8), and progressive disease rate of 24.7% (95% CI, 18.8-31.2). Commonly reported adverse events were anemia, thrombocytopenia, abdominal adverse events, neutropenia, fatigue, leukopenia, alopecia, anorexia, mucositis, stomatitis, and hepatobiliary adverse events. CONCLUSION: Cisplatin-containing regimens have shown moderate efficacy with significant improvement in overall survival at 1 year, stable disease rate, and progressive disease rate; however, only a small percentage of patients achieved an overall response rate.

An Exploratory Qualitative Analysis of the Stanford-Templeton Convenings on Islam and Suicide.

For over 70 years, studies have reported lower rates of completed suicide in Muslim-majority countries and individuals who identify as Muslim. To this point, the mechanisms underlying the relationship between Islam and lower risk of suicide remain understudied. In an effort to advance our understanding, we convened a bilingual international interdisciplinary panel of experts for a discussion of the current state and future directions of the field. In this paper, we present an exploratory qualitative analysis of the core themes that emerged from the group interviews. We also derive a general theoretical model of the association between Islam and suicide risk.

The Efficacy of Ketoconazole Containing Regimens in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is a challenging subset of prostate cancer associated with an extensive metastatic profile and high mortality. Ketoconazole is a nonselective steroid 17α-hydroxylase/17,20 lyase (CYP17A1) inhibitor and is employed as a second line treatment option for CRPC with an established efficacy profile in patients. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of ketoconazole containing regimens for CRPC in terms of prostate specific antigen (PSA) decline rate using a systematic review and meta-analysis. In this review, an electronic search was carried out on PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Scopus, and Google Scholar to find relevant literature. Random effects model was used to assess pooled PSA decline rate and 95% CIs. Publication bias was assessed using the funnel plot symmetry and one-tailed Egger's and Begg's test. In all cases, P-value <.05 was indicative of significant results. The review is registered with PROSPERO: CRD42023466536. A total of 483 articles were retrieved after database searching, out of which 23 studies (having a total of 1315 patients) were included in the review based on prespecified criteria. The PSA decline rate was reported in the 14 observational studies (having 964 patients) and 9 experimental studies (having 351 patients). Pooled results revealed that 48.6% (95% CI 43.1-54.2; P-value <.001; I2 = 73.24%) of participants achieved more than 50% decline in PSA (602/1315 participants). Sensitivity analysis using the leave-one-out method revealed no substantial change in pooled effect estimates; (Risk Ratio) RR 47.2% to RR 49.8% demonstrating the robustness of our results. There was no evidence of publication bias as assessed from the funnel plot symmetry. Ketoconazole containing regimens have shown moderate efficacy in high risk CRPC patients as demonstrated by the pooled results. Hence, a ketoconazole based chemotherapy can be added to patients' regimen if there is a persistent rise in PSA levels after androgen deprivation therapy.

Mathematical modelling and deep learning algorithms to automate assessment of single and digitally multiplexed immunohistochemical stains in tumoural stroma.

Whilst automated analysis of immunostains in pathology research has focused predominantly on the epithelial compartment, automated analysis of stains in the stromal compartment is challenging and therefore requires time-consuming pathological input and guidance to adjust to tissue morphometry as perceived by pathologists. This study aimed to develop a robust method to automate stromal stain analyses using 2 of the commonest stromal stains (SMA and desmin) employed in clinical pathology practice as examples. An effective computational method capable of automatically assessing and quantifying tumour-associated stromal stains was developed and applied on cores of colorectal cancer tissue microarrays. The methodology combines both mathematical models and deep learning techniques with the former requiring no training data and the latter as many inputs as possible. The novel mathematical model was used to produce a digital double marker overlay allowing for fast automated digital multiplex analysis of stromal stains. The results show that deep learning methodologies in combination with mathematical modelling allow for an accurate means of quantifying stromal stains whilst also opening up new possibilities of digital multiplex analyses.

Cardiac autonomic plexus neuromodulation for decompensated heart failure: An updated review on the positive inotropic technique based on the DRI2P2S classification.

Current pharmacological regimen is unable to improve adverse outcomes such as mortality post hospitalization for Acutely Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF) patients. Ongoing research is directed towards managing ADHF patients with Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System (CANS) excitatory interventions having long-term prognosis benefits. Recently, a novel treatment coined as Cardiac Pulmonary Nerve Stimulation (CPNS) has reproducibly shown increased inotropy with no change in heart rate. However, there are some potential limitations associated with the neurostimulation of the parasympathetic component of the CANS plexus. The INOVATE-HF trial involved the vagus nerve only. The early termination of the INOVATE-HF trial gave valuable insights into the cardio-protective effect of simultaneously stimulating the sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the CANS plexus done in CPNS. It is essential to individualize the treatment protocol keeping in mind patient selection. Ongoing trials assessing the efficacy and safety of the CPNS technique in ADHF patients shall set the tone for such innovative techniques in times to come.

Efficacy and safety of bedaquiline containing regimens in patients of drug-resistant tuberculosis: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and leads to serious complications if left untreated. Some strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are multi-drug resistant and require treatment with newer drugs. Bedaquiline based treatment regimens have been used in patients who are diagnosed with drug resistant tuberculosis. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety profile of bedaquiline-based treatment regimens using a systematic review of existing literature and meta-analysis. Methods: In this study, an electronic search was carried out on PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane library to find relevant literature from March 2021 onwards. Random-effects model was used to assess pooled treatment success rate and 95 % CIs. p-value of <0.05 was suggestive of publication bias. The review is registered with PROSPERO: CRD42023432748. Results: A total of 543 articles were retrieved by database searching, out of which 12 new studies met the inclusion criteria. The total number of articles included in the review was 41 including 36 observational studies (having a total of 9,934 patients) and 5 experimental studies (having a total of 468 patients). The pooled treatment success rate was 76.9 % (95 % CI, 72.9-80.4) in the observational studies and 81.7 % (95 % CI, 67.2-90.7) in the experimental studies. Further subgroup analysis was done on the basis of treatment regimens containing bedaquiline only and treatment regimens containing bedaquiline and delamanid. The pooled treatment success rate in the studies consisting of patients who were treated with regimens containing bedaquiline only was 78.4 % (95 % CI, 74.2-82.1) and 73.6 % (95 % CI, 64.6-81.0) in studies consisting of patients who were treated with regimens containing bedaquiline and delamanid. There was no evidence of publication bias. Conclusions: In patients of drug resistant tuberculosis having highly resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis undergoing treatment with bedaquiline-based regimen demonstrate high rates of culture conversion and treatment success. Moreover, the safety profile of bedaquiline-based regimens is well-established in all studies.

Impact of gamification on green consumption behavior integrating technological awareness, motivation, enjoyment and virtual CSR.

Gamification entails integrating game design elements, including rewards, points, competition, and interactive challenges, into non-game contexts to engage and motivate individuals. In the context of green consumption, gamification can encourage individuals to acquire more sustainable consumption behaviors. The proposed study aims to examine the influence of gamification on green consumption behavior among Chinese university students. However, university students are considered an important target group for such interventions due to their technological savvy and high interest in environmental issues. A self-determination theory (SDT) was used to measure the motivating factors of gamification for adopting green consumption behavior-a convenience sampling technique in which survey-based research designs were used to collect the data. A survey was conducted on a sample of 332 university students in China, using a questionnaire with structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the hypotheses and assess the proposed relationships between the variables. The finding of this study reveals that gamification has a significant negative relation with green consumption behavior. Further, technological awareness, hedonic motivation, and perceived enjoyment significantly mediate the relationship between gamification and green consumption behavior. Additionally, virtual CSR significantly moderates the relationship between gamification and technological awareness, hedonic motivation, and perceived enjoyment. The findings of this study could have implications for the development of more effective interventions for policy makers and industrialists aimed at promoting sustainable consumption behaviors in China.

Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: An Unusual Pericardial and Pulmonary Metastasis - A Case Report.

Introduction: Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) manifests in the glandular cells present in the lining of the esophagus and usually forms in the distal portion of the esophagus. The metastasis of EAC has been reported to occur in surrounding lymphovascular structures, the liver, brain, and bones. Case Presentation: We present the rare case of a 52-year-old Hispanic male with EAC metastasis to the pericardium and lungs. The patient presented with shortness of breath off and on for the last 6 weeks without any usually reported symptoms of EAC like chest pain, vomiting, or chronic cough. Respiratory examinations of this patient were significant for bilateral bronchial breathing and coarse crackles. The patient had been given numerous courses of oral antibiotics over the previous weeks with the provisional diagnosis of atypical pneumonia. Cardiac tamponade pathophysiology was also observed in this patient, for which a pericardial window was created to relieve the patient's symptoms. A final diagnosis of EAC with an unusual metastasis in the lungs and pericardium was made based on radiological and pathological findings. The patient chose palliative care instead of curative care because of the advanced stage of this cancer. The patient received cancer diagnosis counseling and was sent to hospice care for further management. Conclusion: The metastasis of EAC to the pericardium and lungs instead of usual sites constitutes an important prognostic factor in the overall survival of patients.

A Comparison of the Modified Alvarado Score and the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Appendicitis (Ripasa) Score in a Southeast Asian Population With Histopathology as the Gold Standard.

Background The diagnosis of acute appendicitis has remained difficult despite it being one of the most common surgical emergencies in the world. One of the most frequently used scoring systems is the Modified Alvarado Score (MAS). However, the MAS has been known to be less efficient in Asian populations. To overcome this issue, the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Appendicitis (RIPASA) score has been specifically developed to improve the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in Asian populations. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the RIPASA score compared to the MAS for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in a Southeast Asian population keeping histopathology as the gold standard. Methodology The study group comprised 150 patients. Data were collected from each patient using a simple proforma to ascertain both the MAS and the RIPASA score for each patient at the time of presentation. The patients then underwent open appendectomy and histopathology was used as the gold standard to determine the presence or absence of acute appendicitis in the excised specimens. Results The RIPASA score had a sensitivity and specificity of 89.83% and 59.38%, respectively, compared to 64.41% and 53.12%, respectively, for the MAS. Diagnostic accuracy was similarly higher for the RIPASA score at 83.33% versus 62.00% for the MAS. Conclusions The RIPASA score is superior to the MAS for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Using the RIPASA score instead of the MAS in Southeast Asian populations can lead to a more accurate and timely clinical diagnosis of patients with suspected acute appendicitis and help improve patient outcomes.

Comprehensive insights into the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNA in alkaline-salt stress tolerance in rice.

BACKGROUND: Alkaline-salt is one of the abiotic stresses that slows plant growth and developmental processes and threatens crop yield. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are endogenous RNA found in plants that engage in a variety of cellular functions and stress responses. METHOD: lncRNAs act as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) and constitute a new set of gene control. The precise regulatory mechanism by which lncRNAs function as ceRNAs in response to alkaline-salt stress remains unclear. We identified alkaline-salt responsive lncRNAs using transcriptome-wide analysis of two varieties including alkaline-salt tolerant [WD20342 (WD)] and alkaline-salt sensitive [Caidao (CD)] rice cultivar under control and alkaline-salt stress treated [WD20342 (WDT, and Caidao (CDT)] conditions. RESULTS: Investigating the competitive relationships between mRNAs and lncRNAs, we next built a ceRNA network involving lncRNAs based on the ceRNA hypothesis. Expression profiles revealed that a total of 65, 34, and 1549 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs were identified in alkaline-salt tolerant WD (Control) vs. WDT (Treated). Similarly, 75 DE-lncRNAs, 34 DE-miRNAs, and 1725 DE-mRNAs (including up-regulated and down-regulated) were identified in alkaline-salt sensitive CD (Control) vs. CDT (Treated), respectively. An alkaline-salt stress ceRNA network discovered 321 lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA triplets in CD and CDT, with 32 lncRNAs, 121 miRNAs, and 111 mRNAs. Likewise, 217 lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA triplets in WD and WDT revealed the NONOSAT000455-osa_miR5809b-LOC_Os11g01210 triplet with the highest degree as a hub node with the most significant positive correlation in alkaline-salt stress response. CONCLUSION: The results of our investigation indicate that osa-miR5809b is dysregulated and plays a part in regulating the defense response of rice against alkaline-salt stress. Our study highlights the regulatory functions of lncRNAs acting as ceRNAs in the mechanisms underlying alkaline-salt resistance in rice.

Effect of cementing technique on aseptic stem loosening in cemented primary total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aseptic stem loosening after total hip arthroplasty surgery is the commonest complication, whether stem is cemented or uncemented. The aseptic cemented stem loosening has been a challenging problem over the years and a leading cause for revision since the inception of total hip arthroplasty. The objective of systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the impact of cementing technique on aseptic stem loosening in total hip arthroplasty. Methods: Cochrane, CINAHL, Embase, Google scholar, Medline, PubMed were searched in 13 December 2020. Two independent investigators extracted the data and a third investigator's involvement was reached on consensus. A total of 37 studies of revision rate due to aseptic loosening were reviewed by using fixed/random effects size and were grouped by cementing technique and studies' characteristics. The data were analyzed through Meta-Essentials and RStudio. Results: In revision total hip arthroplasty, retained femoral components revisions rate due to aseptic loosening were recorded in 37 studies involving 6167 cases. Aseptic loosening rate collectively was 5.8% (CI 95%, 0.03-0.08) and mean follow-up of study was 12.5 years. The average follow-up period, mean age at index revision surgery and percentage of aseptic loosening were insignificantly associated with revision rate (P≥0.05), in meta-regression univariant analyses. Conclusion: This investigative analysis showed that there is a minimal difference between results of cementing techniques of total hip arthroplasty in femoral components in long-term follow-ups, and usually have a low risk of failure.

FRAX calculation with and without bone mineral density for assessment of osteoporotic fracture risk in patients of rheumatic disease: a cross-sectional study.

To compare fracture risk assessment (FRAX) calculation with and without bone mineral density (BMD) in predicting 10-year probability of hip and major osteoporotic fracture in patients of rheumatic diseases. Methodology: A cross-sectional was conducted at outpatient Department of Rheumatology. Eighty-one Patients of more than 40 years of age having either sex. Diagnosed case of Rheumatic diseases were according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) /European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) criteria were included in our study. FRAX score without BMD was calculated and information was recorded in proforma. These patients were advised dual energy X-ray absorptiometry Scan and after that FRAX with BMD was calculated, after which comparison between result of two scores was made. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 24. Effect modifiers were controlled by stratification. Post-stratification χ2 test were applied. P value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: This study consisted of 63 participants, who were assessed for osteoporotic risk fracture, with and without BMD. Data analysis revealed a significant association between the type of fracture and age (p value=0.009), previous fracture (p value=0.25), parent fractured hip (p values) and treatment with bone mineral dismissal. There was no statistically significant association seen of fractures with bone deterioration with sex, weight, height, or current smoking. Conclusion: FRAX may be crucial in rural areas where dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning is not available since it is a readily available instrument. FRAX is a useful substitute for estimating osteoporosis risk when funds are scarce. Given the possible effect it will have on healthcare costs, this is extremely pertinent.

Outcomes in Lower Pole Kidney Stone Management Using Mini-Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Compared With Retrograde Intra Renal Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Because of the anatomical properties of the inferior calyx, lower pole stones are difficult to remove through the ureter, even if the stones are fragmented. Retrograde intra-renal surgery (RIRS) is typically employed to treat the smaller lower pole stones (1.0-2.0 cm) while percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is primarily used to treat the larger diameter stones or when RIRS has failed to clear the stones. This study was conducted to compare mini-PCNL and RIRS for the management of lower pole kidney stones in terms of stone clearance. Material and methods This randomized control trial was conducted in the Department of Urology, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore from October 2020 to December 2022. A total of 150 patients between the ages of 18 and 80 years with a kidney stone size of 10-20 mm at the lower pole were included. Patients with positive urine culture, anatomical abnormalities, uncontrolled diabetes (hemoglobin{Hb}A1c >9%), and undergone previous renal surgery were excluded. Group A patients were treated with mini-PCNL, while group B patients were managed with RIRS. Follow-up visits were planned four weeks postoperatively with CT KUB (computed tomography of kidneys, ureters, and bladder) plain to assess stone clearance. Results The mean age in group A was 43.27 ± 13.86 years, while in group B was 45.32 ± 14.14 years. Out of 150 patients, 102 (68.0%) were males and 48 (32.0%) were females. Mean size of the stone was 15.30 ± 2.21 mm. Stone clearance after mini-PCNL was found in 69 (92.0%) patients and after RIRS in 59 (78.67%) patients (p-value = 0.021). Mean hospital stay after RIRS was 1.1 ± 0.09 days, while it was 2.3 ± 0.64 days after mini-PCNL (p-value < 0.001). Two (2.67%) patients in the mini-PCNL group developed bleeding postoperatively. The stone clearance rate in older patients (51 to 80 years) was significantly higher in the mini-PCNL group than RIRS group. Similarly, the stone clearance rate in female patients and in patients with larger stones (16 to 20 mm) was found to be higher in mini-PCNL group as compared to the RIRS group. Conclusion This study concluded that both mini-PCNL and RIRS are safe and efficient techniques for treating lower pole kidney stones with a size of 11-15 mm. However, mini-PCNL has a higher stone clearance rate compared to RIRS in the treatment of stones larger than 15 mm in size. This study further suggested that patients treated with mini-PCNL had a longer hospital stay compared to patients treated with RIRS.

Genome-wide and molecular characterization of the DNA replication helicase 2 (DNA2) gene family in rice under drought and salt stress.

Rice plants experience various biotic (such as insect and pest attack) and abiotic (such as drought, salt, heat, and cold etc.) stresses during the growing season, resulting in DNA damage and the subsequent losses in rice production. DNA Replication Helicase/Nuclease2 (DNA2) is known to be involved in DNA replication and repair. In animals and yeast DNA2 are well characterized because it has the abilities of both helicase and nuclease, it plays a crucial role in DNA replication in the nucleus and mitochondrial genomes. However; they are not fully examined in plants due to less focused on plants damage repair. To fill this research gap, the current study focused on the genome-wide identification and characterization of OsDNA2 genes, along with analyses of their transcriptional expression, duplication, and phylogeny in rice. Overall, 17 OsDNA2 members were reported to be found on eight different chromosomes (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 11). Among these chromosomes (Chr), Chr4 contained a maximum of six OsDNA2 genes. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the OsDNA2 gene members were clustered into three different groups. Furthermore, the conserved domains, gene structures, and cis-regulatory elements were systematically investigated. Gene duplication analysis revealed that OsDNA2_2 had an evolutionary relationship with OsDNA2_14, OsDNA2_5 with OsDNA2_6, and OsDNA2_1 with OsDNA2_8. Moreover, results showed that the conserved domain (AAA_11 superfamily) were present in the OsDNA2 genes, which belongs to the DEAD-like helicase superfamily. In addition, to understand the post-transcriptional modification of OsDNA2 genes, miRNAs were predicted, where 653 miRNAs were reported to target 17 OsDNA2 genes. The results indicated that at the maximum, OsDNA2_1 and OsDNA2_4 were targeted by 74 miRNAs each, and OsDNA2_9 was less targeted (20 miRNAs). The three-dimensional (3D) structures of 17 OsDNA2 proteins were also predicted. Expression of OsDNA2 members was also carried out under drought and salt stresses, and conclusively their induction indicated the possible involvement of OsDNA2 in DNA repair under stress when compared with the control. Further studies are recommended to confirm where this study will offer valuable basic data on the functioning of DNA2 genes in rice and other crop plants.